Improvement in clothes-pounders



' Clothes-Founder.

No. 214,688. Patented April 22,1879.

MPETERS. PHOTDJJTNOGRAPfijER, WASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES WILLIAM A. MOORE, or

OHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS.

- IMPROVEMENT IN CLOTHES-POUNDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 214,688, dated April 2'2, 1879; application filed March 14, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, W. A. MOORE, of Champaign, in the county of Ohampaigu and State of Illinois, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Washin g-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in atmospheric washing-machines; and it consists in the use of a ball-valve, which is placed inside of the body itself, instead of in an intermediate chamber, and a funnel for gathering the air, so as to force the ball downward as the washer is raised upward, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The accompanying drawing represents a vertical section of my invention.

a represents the usual funnel-shaped body, which is braced across its bottom by the brace c, which also serves to prevent the clothes from rising up into the body. Upon the top of this body is secured the socket d for the handle and the funnel e, as shown.

The lower end of the socket opens directly into the body a, and has a number of holes, g, made through it for the air to pass down into the body; and the surrounding funnel e, as the washer is raised upward, serves to catch the air and force it downward upon the ball-valve h with sufficient force to instantly move it downward as the washer is raised upward. This ball valve is supported upon the two wires z, which cross the top of the body a, in-' stead of upon a specially-prepared seat in a separate chamber, as has heretofore been the case. Being placed in the apex of the body, as the downward motion of the washer begins, the air forces the ball upward, so as to entirely close the opening into the socket d and prevent any escape at this point. As the upward motion of the washer begins, the volume of air gathered by the funnel e forces the ball instantly downward, so as to let air rush into the body a, and thus prevent any suction which would otherwise take place, and thus cause the washer to be harder to operate.

The great advantages gained by placing the ball-valve directly in the body a are, that the valve-seat and chamber are entirely done away with, and the construction of the washer cheapened accordingly. There being nothing but this valve that is movable, there is no part that can get out of order or wear out. The ball can be, collapsed and taken out at any time, and there is nothing in the construction of the washer to require skilled labor to construct them.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- In an atmospheric washer, the combination of the body a, socket d, provided with the airholes 9, funnel e, and valve h, substantially as shown.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 4th day of March, 1879.

WILLIAM A. MOORE. Witnesses:

A. D. EADS, H. R. BUcKL s. 

